Results from two new studies add to the body of
evidence that supports Cognigram(TM) as a sensitive assessment to detect and
monitor cognitive decline over time, namely in healthy individuals and adults
with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) that are carriers of a biological marker
in the brain - Aβ amyloid.(1,2) Data from two studies were presented at the
Canadian Conference on Dementia (CCD), in Vancouver, British Columbia, between
October 3 and 5.

"This is a true advance in the way clinicians will be able to detect and
monitor the progression of cognitive disorders in older people. It is the
first time that a computerized cognitive assessment has been associated with
levels of Aβ amyloid in the brain," says Dr. Paul Maruff, Chief Science
Officer at Cogstate and one of the authors of the two studies. "Aβ amyloid
is a biomarker that signifies abnormal proteins in the brain and provides
important information to indicate that the Alzheimer's disease process has
begun. In our studies presented at CCD, we underscore the sensitivity of
Cognigram(TM) to efficiently assess over time (up to 36 months) the decline of
cognitive function in people whose brains had been scanned and showed presence
of high levels of this biomarker."

Amyloid and Cognition
Aβ amyloid biomarkers provide important insights into the clinical course of
cognition. Prospective studies in healthy older adults and adults with mild
cognitive impairment have shown that high levels of Aβ amyloid are often
associated with the decline of cognitive function and a more rapid progression
to the next clinical disease stage.(1)

Cognition is the mental process of knowing, including aspects such as
awareness, perception, reasoning, and judgment. Some decrease in cognition is
expected at older ages, but the decline is not uniform across all cognitive
tasks or for all individuals. Impaired cognition can have health consequences,
such as first stroke, falls, and institutionalization. It may reduce an
individual's ability to communicate pain to health care providers, carry out
instrumental activities of daily living, cope with chronic disease symptoms,
perform self-care and adhere to medication instructions.( 3)

"Dementia and Alzheimer's disease are marked by a decline in overall cognition
and function, having a profound impact on the daily life of patients and their
caregivers," says Dr. Louis Verret, Neurologist and Researcher,
Interdisciplinary Memory Clinic, Centre hospitalier universitaire (CHU) de
Québec. "As these diseases continue to escalate at an alarming rate, research
looking at Aβ amyloid in the brain and its relationship to changes in
cognition is an exciting area that may contribute to therapeutic interventions
aimed at modifying the course of Alzheimer's di